Ready to run

Keltie Jones to represent PC party in next provincial election

Keltie Jones will be the PC party candidate for Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River in the next provincial election.

Running in another election wasn’t at the top of Keltie Jones’ list of things to do, but when the opportunity arose to take part in a provincial election she decided to take it.

During a Progressive Conservative nomination meeting Wednesday, she was chosen the party’s candidate for TruroBible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River. Sondra Borden was the other nominee.

“I’m very excited about joining the team,” said Jones. “I’ve had many conversations with Jamie Baillie and I feel confident in his optimistic and progressive response to what is needed in Nova Scotia.

“I have a background and training in law, policy and strategic management so I feel this is a good fit. I see it as a public service more than politics.”

One topic she’s passionate about is poverty reduction. She wants to help people understand the business case for ending poverty.

She feels government has often made, and implemented, decisions in ways that were not collaborative and inclusive.

“I think Lenore (Zann) has Jones been a very active MLA but I feel Nova Scotia needs leadership that’s moving in another direction,” she said. “I don’t feel the NDP and Liberals are going in the right direction.”

She has friends who will be working with her as she runs her campaign, and some who will be working with other parties.

“What I appreciate most about Canadian politics is that people can be involved with different parties and still like each other,” she said.

Having run for mayor of Truro in 2012 and 2016, Jones understands the demands of election campaigns but she’s confident she has the necessary resources. During the 2016 campaign she was holding down her own job as assistant dean of Students and Academic Administration at the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture, as well as filling in for a colleague who was away.

Her wife Joy – who she calls her biggest fan – has already agreed to help with the campaign.

Jones has been a resident of Truro for eight years, but has been a regular visitor to the area for more than 30 years.